FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The University of Dayton softball team held on for the 10-7 win over Colorado State Saturday evening to split its first two games of the CSU Classic, held at Ram Field. Junior Natalie Mariano led Dayton offensively with three hits, four RBI and a run scored as one of three Flyers with three or more RBI.

Senior Rachel Archer went 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored while junior Tiffany Ricks was 2-for-4 with three RBI. The Flyers out-hit the Rams, 14-6, while each squad committed one error apiece.

Dayton (5-11) put up five runs in the second inning to jump out on CSU. The Rams walked the bases loaded and, with one out, Archer singled in senior Alysha Isaacson. Mariano also collected a RBI with a single to left center that plated freshman Katie Ryan. Ricks blasted a two-out, three-RBI double but was put out at third to end the frame with the Flyers leading, 5-0.

Colorado State (9-4) again walked the bases loaded in the third inning for Dayton, this time with two outs but Archer batted a two-RBI double to right, scoring senior Dana Trotta and Isaacson. Mariano followed with a two-RBI single to right, plating Archer and sophomore Kennedy Haynes. After two and a half innings, Dayton was in charge, 9-0.

The Rams got three runs back in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice bunt and a two-RBI single and another run scored in the fourth on a triple to left field. The Flyers got a run back in the fifth when Archer was able to score as Mariano was put out at second after singling to center field. Heading to the bottom of the frame, UD held on to the 10-4 advantage.

The fifth and sixth inning brought in three more runs for the Rams, cutting the Flyer lead to three, 10-7. With two put outs at first and a looking strikeout, Dayton ended the game holding the same three-run advantage.

Junior Kayla English (2-5) was credited with the win in the circle for Dayton after throwing 4.1 innings. She struck out two batters to seven walks and gave up five earned runs on three hits. Sophomore Emily Froment worked 1.2 innings of middle relief with one strikeout and three walks while freshman Gabrielle Snyder picked up her first career save after closing out the game for UD, recording one strikeout.

Molly Randle (2-1) took the loss for the Rams after giving up nine earned runs in 2.2 innings of action. Holly Reinke worked the final 4.1 innings of the contest, striking out three batters and giving up one run on four hits.

Dayton returns to action on Sunday to close out the Colorado State Classic with games against Southern Utah at 8:30 a.m. MT (10:30 a.m. ET) and Colorado State at approximately 10:45 a.m. MT (12:45 p.m. ET).